Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky spent his week in the United States, touring a munitions factory in Pennsylvania, giving a speech at the United Nations, meeting with members of Congress and meeting with President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. As announced delayed Thursday afternoon, Zelensky also took the opportunity to meet with former President and Republican candidate Donald Trump at Trump Tower during his stay in New York.
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Ahead of the meeting, Trump and Zelensky addressed the press with a few brief remarks:
#CIC President Donald Trump meets Ukrainian politician Zelensky in New York City. 👀 #NYC #NewYorkCity #Ukraine pic.twitter.com/4XGe8NIY8q
— 🄴🄻ϻ🄴🅁 🄵µ🄳🄳 ✝️ (@Elmr_Fudd_again) September 27, 2024
TRUMP: Well, thank you very much. It is an honor to have the President with us. And he’s been through a lot. He’s been through a lot like probably no one else – almost no one else in history, when you get right down to it. And we’ll have a discussion and see what we can come up with. But… it’s a great honor to have you with us. Thank you.
ZELENSKY: Thank you very much. Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you for this meeting. Five…five years have passed since we met again here in New York in September. And now, with many challenges – Ukraine and the United States. And of course I would like to discuss with you where we stand together. I think we agree that the war in Ukraine must end, Putin cannot win and Ukrainians must win. And I would like to discuss with you the details of our plan.
During preliminary remarks, Trump praised Zelensky for not acting “cute” during his first impeachment trial (in their phone call), noting that when asked about it, Zelensky said, “President Trump has absolutely nothing wrong.” made.”
NEW
At Trump Tower, former President Trump praises Ukrainian President Zelensky for not acting “cute” during his first impeachment trial.
Trump says Zelensky could have thrown him under the bus, but didn’t and he hasn’t forgotten. pic.twitter.com/jDanMXWatR
– Yashar Ali 🐘 (@yashar) September 27, 2024
There was even a certain flippancy during the remarks:
Trump: I have a very good relationship with President Putin
Zelensky: I hope that we will have even more good relations with each other
Trump: Oh, ha ha, I see pic.twitter.com/5vgHy0xT0t
– Acyn (@Acyn) September 27, 2024
TRUMP: So we have a very good relationship… and I also, as you know, have a very good relationship with President Putin, and I think if we win, I think we’ll solve the problem very quickly. Very – I really believe that we will solve the problem quickly –
ZELENSKY: I hope that we have even more good relations with us –
TRUMP: – We’ll, oh, ha ha, I see… yeah, but you know, it takes two to tango.
The two then met in camera and then addressed the media again.
This is what leadership looks like pic.twitter.com/SJMNR3Z27R
— Karli Bonne’ 🇺🇸 (@KarluskaP) September 27, 2024
The clip above picks up halfway through Zelensky’s comments, but he says something here that seems highly appropriate – and perhaps it’s a nod to Trump’s running mate, Ohio Sen. JD Vance, who suggested that Zelensky do so in response American people should thank him for his harsh criticism of Vance earlier this week. Also note what Trump has to say about learning a lot.
ZELENSKY: …the strength of our soldiers, our people. Of course it will bring us closer to peace – we need just peace, we need just peace. It’s so critical to create just peace for people, especially for the families who, you know, have lost their children – it’s a great tragedy.
REPORTER: President Trump, have you changed your mind about how this war should end and what you think should be done? Or do you still disagree with some of the previous statements?
TRUMP: Well, I’ve learned a lot, but I don’t think I’ve changed from the standpoint that we both want to see an end and that we both want to see a fair deal. And it has to be fair, and I think that will happen at the right time – I think that it will happen. The president wants it to end, and as quickly as possible. He wants a fair transaction to take place. And I think – I mean, I’m campaigning at the moment, so I don’t have much to do with it at the moment other than we’re doing very well in terms of the campaign, and I’ve said that I think if I win, we will have a very fair and, in my opinion, pretty quick deal.
It should stop, and the president wants it to stop. And I’m sure President Putin wants it to stop – and that’s a good combination. That’s why we want to have a fair offer for everyone.
…
ZELSKI: This war should not be started, and I think the problem is that Putin killed so many people. And of course we have to do everything we can to pressure him to end this war and it’s in our territory – that’s what’s most critical to us – it’s in our territory and how we can stop the war to stop it like to put pressure on ourselves…we have to do it.
REPORTER: And do you think the US is the best?
ZELENSKY: You ask the leader of the support. You ask the leader of the world. And of course we’re really aware of the support of the United States – we’re grateful to the United States, the American people. And of course we understand that the United States can take the lead in any negotiations. You know that we have the peace summit and want to organize the second one, and we count – we count on this word.
REPORTER: I know you’re both in a rush – last question. Will there be another meeting between you in the near future?
TRUMP: Could very well happen. But I think the president said it best: This is a war that should never have happened. It should never have happened. And it wouldn’t have happened. It’s a shame, but this is a war that should never have happened. And we will solve it – it is a complicated puzzle, a very complicated puzzle – but we will solve it and people can move on with their lives. Too many deaths; Too many lovely cities – I’ve seen these cities, they’re so lovely – and they… I don’t know how you can ever rebuild them the way they were, it’s not possible, but –
ZELENSKY: (smiling) By the way, you have to come to see us.
TRUMP: I will. It’s a lovely country, lovely weather, everything is lovely. But we have to get this over with. But it’s a war and… it’s a war that should never have happened.
A few observations: First, this was a win-win for Trump and Zelensky. Both benefited from the highly publicized meeting by speaking to the press together. Zelensky benefits from receiving the support from Trump and his supporters that he will need if Trump wins in November. Trump benefits from showing that he has influence – and that other world leaders (including the left’s darling Zelensky) want to be a part of it. And it also sends a message to Putin that the dealmaker may soon be in the game and there may still be a solution he can accept and live with.
Second, note Zelensky’s body language before and after the meeting. Before he looked tense and anxious. He looked much more relaxed afterward. Why exactly this is is strenuous to say, but I feel like it’s a good thing. We’ll see.
